Child, early and forced marriage (CEFM) is a human rights
violation that robs a girl of her childhood, puts her health and
growth at risk, disrupts her education, limits her opportunities
for empowerment and social development, and increases her
risk of exposure to violence and abuse.
This paper provides an overview of how the laws of 37
countries in the Asia-Pacific region1
address the issue of CEFM,
highlighting contradictions between different legislative tools in
each country, with the ultimate aim of identifying key elements
of legislation to fight CEFM.
Parliamentarians play a crucial role in enforcing existing
laws and policies and in bringing about the necessary legal
reforms. Parliamentarians in the Asia-Pacific region have taken
vital steps towards the development of legal tools aimed at
reducing CEFM and have worked to raise awareness on this
issue, but much more needs to be done. Harmonizing existing
laws and ensuring their implementation, for instance, are some
of the priorities (see Annex 1). Despite the introduction of laws
to prevent the practice in many of the countries where CEFM is
common, global rates have declined only slightly over the past
decade (1).
Given the nature of the issue of CEFM as inherently linked
to deep-rooted gender inequalities, norms, stereotypes and
harmful practices, there is a need to develop and implement
holistic, comprehensive and coordinated responses and
strategies, including the strengthening of child protection
systems, protection mechanisms such as safe shelters, access
to justice, promotion of education and access to health care,
including sexual and reproductive health (2). These responses
and strategies are needed in addition to the enactment,
enforcement and upholding of laws and policies aimed at
preventing and ending this practice.